Liverpool boss Benitez shrugs off Ferguson rift

Ferguson and Benitez have been at loggerheads this season over the transfer saga involving Heinze.

Benitez cannot understand why Ferguson is getting involved in Liverpool's business and believes maybe the Scot is scared of the threat posed by Liverpool this season.

"I want to be clear. I have a lot of respect for Sir Alex Ferguson, because he is a great manager," Benitez told the Sunday Mirror .

"But I have to think about my club and maybe now we have a better squad he knows we can become contenders.

"It is good people are talking about Liverpool as an option for the title this year. At this moment, I think we have a squad big enough and good enough to compete in every competition.

"So while the League is a priority because we haven't won it for so long, we also have ideas for the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup. We will be fighting for everything - every single competition.

"I don't know what Ferguson is thinking when he speaks about us.

"The only thing I know is that Gabriel Heinze is not here and we need to manage with the situation we have."